Heating, cooling, and ventilating seated enclosure



ec. 22, 1936. R. H. MAUTSCH HEATING, COOLING, AND VENTILATING SEATEDENCLOSURE Filed June 13, 1934 2 Sheets-Sheet'l INVENTOR v ROBERT HENRIMAUTSCH Qflm 4/ ATTORNEY Dec. 22, 1936. sc 2,065,192

HEATING, COOLING, AND VENTILATING SEATED ENCLOSURE Filed June 13, 1934 2Sheets-Sheet 2 -:a f (9 T 2 INVENTOR ROBERT HENRI MAUTSOH- ATTORNEYPatented Dec. 22, 1936 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

HEATING, COOLING, AND VENTILATING SEATED ENCLOSURE Application June 13,1934, Serial No.

I Belgium June 21, 1933 6 Claims.

The present invention relates to heating, cooling, or ventilatingenclosures provided with seats by the circulation of hot or cold airtherethrough, and more particularly to the application of such apparatusto the seats of vehicles. In existing apparatus for this purposeperforated distributing ducts are usually located, along the walls orunderneath the seats of the enclosure and are supplied with air underrelatively high. pressure from pipes of relatively small section inorder to economize space. Owing to the small capacity of the pipes andducts the air cannot adequately expandv before being emitted from theducts and thus issues in noisy jets, and at such a speed as to createdisagreeable currents and to raise dust in the enclosure, especially inthe case of vehicles. 0n the other hand, when, the distributing ductsare located underneath the seats, theiree space underneath these whichshould be open to permit of the diifusion of the air in the enclosure,constitutes a receptacle for dust and refuse which is unhygienic. v

These various disadvantages are overcome by the present invention onefeature of which consists essentially in incorporating with the seats ofthe enclosure to be heated, cooled or ventilated, air chambers of largedimensions relative to the air conduits to which they are connected,

'and communicating through orifices with the atmosphere in theenclosure. These chambers being underneath the seats of which they forman integral part, do not take up useful space whilst their greatcapacity permits of sufficiently uniform and silent distribution at avery low pressure of the air supplied to the chambers under a relativelyhigh pressure by the supply pipes.

Another important feature of the invention consists in the provision ofregenerative arrangements for effecting an exchange of heat unitsbetween the incoming air entering the enclosure and the vitiated airwithdrawn therefrom for the purpose of effecting economy in heating orcooling.

The invention is illustrated by way of example in the accompanyingdrawings in which:-

Figure 1 is a perspective view of a seat with which an air chamber isincorporated in accordance with the invention.

Figure 2 is a vertical transverse section through the seat illustratedin Figure 1 taken on the line .2-2 of Fig. 3.

Figure 3 is a horizontal section through the air chamber of this seattaken on the line 3-3 of Fig.2.

Figure 4 is a vertical transverse section similar to Figure 2 butillustrating a modified embodiment of the invention.

Figure 5 is a vertical transverse section similar to Figure 2illustrating a further embodiment of the invention taken on, the line 66of Fig. 6, and 5 Figure 6 is a horizontal section through the airchamber of the seat illustrated in Figure 5 taken on the line 55 of Fig.6, and Figure 7 is a transverse section of a railroad car showingdiagrammatically the regenerative installation associated 10 therewith.

Referring first to Figures 1 to 3 of the drawings, a seat intended moreparticularly for railroad cars, comprises two seat units I located backto back with an air chamber 2 therebetween which constitutes the base ofthe seat and is itself located on the floor 3 of the car. Into thischamber 2 a compressed air inlet conduit 4 such as a hot air conduitopens (Figure 2). The expansion of this air in the large volume of thechamber lowers its pressure to a value such that it can be distributedto the car through orifices in the chamber, without causing hissing orcreating appreciable air currents. Owing to the large number of orificeswith which the chamber may be provided by reason of its largedimensions, a true diffusion of air into the atmosphere of the enclosureto be heated, cooled or ventilated is effected.

An extension 6 of the chamber 2 is constituted by the hollow back 1 ofthe seat and com cates with the atmosphere of the enclosure throughorifices 8, including orifices 8a and 8b, and 9 arranged, respectively,at the top of the back of the seat, and at the side thereof.

Furthermore, an internal partition [0 divides the chamber 2 into twocompartments 2a and 2b, the back 1 being divided into compartments 6aand 612 by a partition H (Figure 1). The compartments 2a and 6a are forexample supplied 40 with hot air from the conduit 4, the compartments 2band 6b being connected to another conduit I 2 which is for instancesubject to a vacuum.

It follows that the hot air supplied to the atmosphere of the enclosurethrough the orifices 5a and 5 8a of the compartments 2a, Go as indicatedby the arrows in the drawings, is after circulating and becomingvitiated, drawn in through the orifices 5b, 8b and 9 of the compartments2b, 6b.

' The heat contained in this vitiated air may be arranged to be added tothe fresh air supplied through the conduit 4 by the exchange of heat ina suitable heat exchanger, thus substantially reducing the cost ofheating.

In the arrangement shown, the compartment 2a, occupies the greaterportion of the chamber 2 and owing to the triangular form of thecompartment 219 extends the entire length of the longer walls of thechamber at the foot of which orifices 5a are provided. Being inclinedobliquely downwardly, these orifices supply hot air on to the fioor 3where it spreads in front of the seat before rising in a large column,surrounding the feet and legs of the Occupants of the seats.

Obviously the compartment 2a and its orifices 5a may serve equally forsupplying cool air for cooling the enclosure, but it is preferably toutilize for this purpose the compartment 2b and the orifices 5b and 9which are directed in the case of a vehicle towards the gangway at rightangles to the seats. This is effected by reversing the direction ofcirculation of the air in the conduits 4 and i2 and by admitting coldair through the conduit i2 into the compartment 2b, whilst the conduit 4may be placed under vacuum, so that the vitiated air after circulationin the enclosure may be taken up by the compartment 2a.

The chamber 2 may evidently be divided in an entirely different mannerfrom that shown and, for instance, all the lower orifices 5a, 5b couldbe employed for distributing the hot air and all the upper orifices 8and 9 on the back of the seat for distributing the cold air.

The seat shown in Figure 4 is similar on general lines to that describedwith reference to Figures 1 to 3. However, instead of being simplyresting on the floor 3, it is sunk therein as shown at l3 in such amanner that the surface of the floor under the seat need not be coveredwith a carpet. In the case of composition floor covering, thisarrangement possesses the advantage of dividing the floor covering intosmall panels defined by the free surfaces between the seats andconsequently less liable to become cracked by expansion and contractionthan a covering extending over the whole floor of the vehicle. On theother hand, the part l3 of the chamber 2 being sunk in the fioorincreases the volume of the chamber without increasing the fioor spaceoccupied.

The hot air entering the chamber 2 through the pipe 4 is guided bybailies Hi to the top of the chamber adjacent the upper edge of theouter chamber walls I l.

The longitudinal walls I4 of the chamber, above the orifices 5a,constitute radiating surfaces for warming the feet of the occupants ofthe seat. In order to avoid heating the seat units l and the back I ofthe seat by the transmission of heat from the air'in the chamber throughthe metal walls thereof, a layer N5 of heat insulating material may beinserted between the chamber and the upholstery of the seat.

In Figures 5 and 6 the air municates with the hot chamber 2 comairconduit 4, through an intake opening H. In the interior of the chambertwo guide passages l8 are provided for supplying the outlet ports I!)which are in the form of elongated slits provided with nozzles havingconvergent lips 22. The passages [8 are open at the ends adjacent to theintake l1 and these ends are provided with dampers or regulators 29 withexternal control 2|, the guide passages being closed at the oppositeends. As shown in Figure 6 the cross section of the passages l8decreases from the inlet so as to ensure a uniform supply to all theports I9.

Opposite the intake H, the transverse wall of the chamber facing towardsthe gangway of the car is perforated with holes 23 through which thegreater part of the air from the chamber 2 may flow into the gangwaywhere its inflow will not inconvenience the occupants of the seats 2 whoare directly and sufficiently heated or cooled by the smaller quantityof air supplied through the ports l9.

As shown in Figure '7 the vitiated air from the car is taken up by aroof conduit 24 preferably having bevelled edges in which ports 25 areprovided. This conduit 24 may likewise be used for supplying fresh airto the car when the operation is reversed so that the vitiated air istaken up by the chamber 2. In this case the fresh air is directedlaterally downwards on to the occupants of the seats throughports 25which imparts to the passengers a pleasant sensation of freshness if theair has been previously cooled.

Figure '7 illustrates a fresh air conduit 26 with a fan 2'! and aheating device 28 leading to the chambers 2, and a vitiated air conduit29 with a fan 39 connected to the roof conduit 24. Con nected in thefresh air conduit 26, is a heat exchanger 3! in which fresh air ispro-heated by the heat units given up to it by the vitiated air fiowingthrough this exchanger before being exhausted to the exterior. Obviouslythe circulation in the conduits 26 and 29 may be reversed so that theroof conduit supplies fresh air to the car, this air being preferablycooled by a cooling device inserted in the conduit 29 between theconduit 24 and the heat exchanger 3| in which the vitiated cool air,taken in by the chambers 2 and conducted by the conduit 26, the heatingdevice 28 being out of action, serves to cool the incoming fresh air. Ineach case the regeneration permits of effecting a substantial saving inthe working of the heating or cooling device.

The invention is evidently not limited to the particular constructionsor arrangements above described and illustrated by way of examples andvarious modifications thereof may be adopted within the scope of theappended claims.

Having now described my invention, what I claim as new and desire tosecure by Letters Patent is:-

1. Air conditioning apparatus for enclosures, Seats within saidenclosures provided with supporting means therefor enclosing airchambers which occupy substantially the whole space between the seat andthe floor, said chambers being divided into two compartments by apartition, one provided with means for distributing fresh air, and theother provided with means for taking up vitiated air, and orifices forthe outflow of air provided in the outer wall of said chambers near thefloor and inclined obliquely toward the floor.

2. Air conditioning apparatus for enclosures, seats within saidenclosures provided with supporting means therefor enclosing airchambers, said air chambers being divided into .two compartments by apartition, one provided with means for distributing fresh air at desiredtemperatures, and the other provided with means for taking up vitiatedair, one of said compartments extending the full length of the airchamber adjacent side walls thereof, and the other compartment extendingadjacent a transverse end wall of said chamber. 7

3. Air conditioning apparatus for enclosures, seats within saidenclosures provided with supporting means therefor enclosing airchambers,

said air chambers being divided into two compartments, one fordistributing fresh air to the enclosure and the other for taking up thevitiated air, a passageway communicating with one of said air chambersand with a supply of air and a passageway communicating with the otherof said chambers for carrying away the vitiated air, and a plurality ofpassageways in the walls of said air chambers for communicating betweensaid air chambers and said enclosure.

4. Air conditioning apparatus for enclosures, seats within saidenclosures provided with supporting means therefore enclosing airchambers, said air chambers being divided into two compartments, one fordistributing fresh air to the enclosure and the other for taking up thevitiated air, a passageway communicating with one of said air chambersand with a supply of air and a passageway for communicating with theother of said chambers for carrying away the vitiated air, a pluralityof passageways in the wall of said air chambers for communicatingbetween said air chambers and said enclosure, and hollow backs for saidseats provided with air chambers communicating with the first named airchambers and provided with orifices in their upper edges.

5. Air conditioning apparatus for enclosures, seats within saidenclosures provided with supporting means therefor enclosing airchambers,

said air chambers being divided into two compartments, one fordistributing fresh air to the enclosure at a desired temperature and theother for taking up the vitiated air, passageways communicating withsaid air chambers and with a supply of air, and a plurality ofpassageways in the walls of said air chambers for communicating betweensaid air chambers and said enclosure, and hollow backs for said seatsprovided with air chambers communicating with the first named airchambers and provided with orifices in their upper edges.

6. Air conditioning apparatus for enclosures, seats within saidenclosures provided with supporting means therefor enclosing airchambers which occupy substantially the whole space between a seat andthe floor, said air chambers being divided into two compartments, onefor distributing fresh air at a desired temperature, and the other fortaking up vitiated air, one of said compartments extending the fulllength of the air chamber adjacent side walls thereof, and the othercompartment extending adjacent the transverse end wall of said chamber,and orifices for the out-flow of air provided in the outer wall of saidchambers near the floor and inclined obliquely toward the floor in frontof the seat.

ROBERT HENRI MAUTSCH.

